»Learning curve(+++*) Go with a guide, the way most people start, and you simply need to be comfortable with heights. For DIY canopy exploration, you’ll need solid rope skills.

*(+)= Low effort, low risk (+++++) = Get a lesson and life insurance

How»Suitable trees have trunks that measure at least six inches in diameter.

» Look for candidates with the lowest branches no more than 35 feet off the ground (experts can double that). To lasso a branch, attach the rope to a throw bag and toss it over.

» Use ascenders (single rope) or a series of pre-tied knots (double rope) to climb to the first branch. Repeat.

»Conifers’ branches are more flexible than hardwoods; climb them at the trunk for greater security.

»Use a rope sleeve to protect the bark and branches from rope burns ($25, newtribe.com).

»Check the base; deep cavities weaken the tree and make climbing dangerous.

»Climb slowly to conquer fear. “Go up 10 feet, pause for a while to acclimate, then climb another 10 feet,” says Patty Jenkins, co-owner of Tree Climbers International (TCI), an instructional school and climbers’ club.

»Check restrictions: Tree-climbing is prohibited in national parks, but allowed on USDA Forest Service lands.

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#NPS100: National Parks are truly a treasure to us all. Theodore Roosevelt recognized this when he preserved millions of acres of land back in 1906. Subaru of America, Inc. invites you to explore a national park in honor of the National Park Service Centennial - for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the planet’s most spectacular places. Visit subaru.com/environment for more information. #FindYourPark